TRUSTING GOD TO DEMONSTRATE HIS POWER by Gary Wilkerson

David never said, “My dad asked me to be a shepherd, so I was a good one. I fought off lions and bears and never lost a sheep.” That would have been a good testimony—but it did not give glory to God. Actually, David’s boast was, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37, ESV).

As a butler in Babylon, Nehemiah risked his life as a wine taster for the king. But Nehemiah’s boast in God was: “I rebuilt a city to restore honor to God’s name.” With God’s name mocked in Jerusalem’s streets, Nehemiah felt a fire in his belly—and he set about rebuilding the walls.

Moses’ testimony was not, “I lived in Pharaoh’s palace and had great authority.” His boast was, “God spoke to me from a burning bush—and I confronted Pharaoh, saying, ‘Let my people go.’” His boast was heard at the Red Sea: “Egypt’s army has drowned in the sea!”

New Testament believers had the same boast. Stephen was a deacon who distributed food to widows—a good testimony in itself—but his boast-worthy testimony came when he preached to an unbelieving crowd. His anointed sermon so provoked the people that they took up stones to kill him. Stephen’s testimony was twofold: He was the first martyr of the Church, and his faithful sacrifice would later impact a Jewish zealot named Saul.

I have yet to meet a Christian who has not wondered, “Isn’t there something more to this life in Christ? When will we see God’s power made manifest in this generation?” Maybe you are facing something that requires God’s intervention. This is no time to say, “I’ll go to church more.” It’s time to say, “I trust God to demonstrate His power in my life. He is going to save my marriage, rescue my kids, impact my coworkers. He’ll give me a boast-worthy testimony.”
This message is not meant to be a guilt trip. It is meant to stir a passion in our hearts—a passion too often repressed by fear and doubt. Some have set aside their faith for so long they no longer believe they can have a boast-worthy testimony—but God’s Word says differently.